The practice of meditation ultimately leads to full awakening or enlightenment. Along the way meditation produces a variety of experiences and realizations. Further practice gradually enhances and increases these qualities. Once they are increased to their full measure they must be stabilized. The “paths” or “stages” of the path of meditation describe the gradual generation, enhancement and stabilization of the experiences, realizations and qualities that are the result of meditation practice. It is important to be familiar with the characteristics of this gradual development of realization on the five paths in order to correctly and realistically appraise the qualities we possess as well as understand where the path of meditation practice will take us.

In these eleven talks, Rinpoche concludes his teaching, begun at the 1996 retreat, on the stages of the path based on the First Chapter of the Ninth Section of the Treasury of Knowledge by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye. He also teaches on Liberation Mahamudra based on materials in the Fourth Chapter of the Eighth Section of the Treasury of Knowledge. Rinpoche’s teaching is thorough, accessible, profound and delightfully entertaining. Several talks include extensive questions and answers. 11 talks.